ISLAMABAD: Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said Pakistan is pursuing stronger economic and trade relations with both the United States and China while expanding cooperation with Gulf countries and other international partners.
In an interview with an international television channel, the finance minister said Pakistan was working to reduce its reliance on foreign assistance and shift towards a sustainable economic model based on trade, investment and stronger commercial partnerships.
He said strengthening economic ties with international partners remained a key priority for the country. Pakistan was focusing on expanding trade and investment opportunities with the United States, China and Gulf countries while valuing the continued support of its international partners.
Aurangzeb emphasised that Pakistan was seeking to advance relations with Washington and Beijing simultaneously. He described China as a longstanding partner and highlighted the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as an important economic initiative for the country.
The finance minister said Pakistan wanted to make greater use of international economic partnerships to attract investment, expand business opportunities and support long-term growth. He stressed that the government’s priority was to promote trade and investment rather than depend primarily on financial assistance.
Discussing remittances, Aurangzeb said overseas Pakistanis sent home $41.6 billion during the previous fiscal year. He expressed expectations that remittances would increase to $44 billion in the current fiscal year.
He highlighted the importance of Pakistan’s relations with Gulf countries, particularly in terms of trade and remittance inflows. The region remains an important economic partner for Pakistan because of its commercial links and the large Pakistani workforce living and working there.
Aurangzeb also stressed the need to reform the international financial system, indicating that changes were important to address global economic challenges and improve the effectiveness of international financial arrangements.
Pakistan has been seeking to strengthen its economic position through greater foreign investment, higher exports, increased remittances and closer cooperation with international partners. The government’s stated approach aims to build more sustainable economic relationships and reduce dependence on external financial support.
The finance minister’s remarks reflect Islamabad’s efforts to maintain balanced relations with major global economies while pursuing economic growth through trade, investment and regional cooperation.
